Botanic Garden - Facilities

Family picnic at the Botanic Garden

The Botanic Garden is a scenic, popular place for weddings and events. There are a number of picturesque settings for hire. As it is a public garden, no part may be hired exclusively.

Venue Hire at Botanic Garden and Otari-Wilton's Bush (366Kb PDF)

Weddings

• Functions as well as photo sessions must be pre-booked.
• Small weddings - of around 20-30 guests - can be held almost anywhere in the Garden.
• Large weddings may be held on the Dell and Soundshell lawns, Puriri and Linden lawns by the Duck Pond and on Remembrance Ridge.
• Begonia House is available for weddings after 5.00pm.
• Wedding photos can be taken anywhere in the Garden (bookings necessary), but there are restrictions in the Lily House.
• You're not allowed to spread confetti, rice and flower petals anywhere in the Garden. You can put marquees up only on the Dell lawn only. The Garden does not provide marquees.

Weddings at Botanic Garden and Otari-Wilton's Bush (262Kb PDF)

Begonia House Foyer

The Begonia House and rose garden

The foyer of the Begonia House is available for weddings and cocktail functions from 5.00pm, after the House has closed to the public. The foyer takes up to 90 people at tables and 120 for standing receptions. The temperature is 16 - 20°C. Clients arrange their own catering, seating and sound systems. A catering kitchen is available.

Begonia House hire details

Magpie Lawn

The Magpie Lawn - above the Glenmore Street West entrance and below the Mariri Road entrance - is a spacious summer venue for large functions. There are toilets 400m away in the Main Garden.

Magpie Lawn hire details

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The Dell

Tulips

The Dell - behind the Begonia House - is a good size for large picnics, functions and public performances. Three-phase power and water is available, and there are toilets nearby. Service vehicles are the only vehicles allowed in this area. Amplified music must stop at 10.00pm.

The Dell hire details

The Soundshell

Summer City at the Soundshell

The Soundshell - just inside the Main Garden - can hold up to 600 people and has a stage. Toilets are located nearby in the Main Garden.

The Soundshell hire details

Treehouse Visitor Centre

The Treehouse Visitor Centre provides information and houses the Garden's administration office.

There is a seminar room and exhibition area that can be booked for seminars and workshops, but not social events. The seminar room seats up to 45 people in a theatre style seating arrangement, or 20 people around tables.

Treehouse Seminar Room

Open Hours

Team-building Challenge

The Botanic Garden offers a one-hour team-building challenge for $25. Fees provide you with five challenge sheets and a copy of answers.

Application Form (98Kb PDF)

Bookings

The Treehouse Visitor Centre manages bookings for all Botanic Garden venues apart from Picnic Café.

Picnic Café

Phone:  (04) 472 6002

Related Links

• Botanic Garden Map (720Kb PDF)
• Location Map
• Venues

Department Details:
Parks and Gardens